Right Farm to

WhatIs the Munlcipality's Roleln FarmRegulation?

MorciD. Green
Chief LegalAffairs, of Agriculture Development Committee State

populated n the most densely conflicts state in the country, farmers, non-farming their between neighbors localgovernment and entities common-andincreasing. are Act,N.J.S.A. 4:1C-1 TheRight Farm to farmers et seq.,affordsresponsible protections municipal regulaagainst farming against and tions constrain that public private nuisance actions. and in Enacted 1983,the Right Farm to Act was companion legislation the to Agriculture Retention Development and Act,N.J.S.A. 4:1C-11 seq.,which et Farmland New established Jersey's Program. Actswere The Preservation to designed worktogether preserve to NewJersey's industry-by agricultural keeping in agriculture by pro land and tecting ability farm. the to Thetwo Acts also established the development boards countyagriculture (CADBS) theState and Agriculture Devel- The Right to Farm Act, N.J.S.A. 4:7C-L ef seg., affords responsiblefarmers (SADC), state protections a opmentCommittee againstmunicipal regulations that constrain farming and against in, of agency butnotof,theDepartment public and private nuisanceactions. The administers the Agriculture. SADC Right FarmandFarmland to Preserva-Act affectsyour authority regulate farmmustsatisfy eligibility to fte require and adminis- agricultural tionPrograms, the CADBs activities. ments farmland for assessment, ofrer on level. ter thesameprograms a local requirement. ftan thefarrnsize Q Are all farmers entitled to the In 1998,the Act was amended p-rotections the Act? to . Agriculture of mustbe a permitted use the for strengthen protections farmers. the zonprotect on thefarmunder municipal to P.L. 1998,c.48.One themostsignif- A No.TheAct is designed of ing ordinance, be consistent or with farmers meetthe who provide pre- onlyresponsible was for icantchanges to "commercial planas of Dec. the municipal master farm."The of ordinances emption municipal of that definition 3I. 1997. lf the commercial farm for criteria eligibility, setforthin the as agricultural seekto regulate specific wasin operation the effective on date the activities longas the agriculturalAct,include following: as of the amendments the Right to to as farm,an meets eligibility operation the standards . To qualify a commercial Farm (July Act 2,1998),however, the hat han fiveacres zoning in the Act. The NewJerseySupreme operation is larger plan ordinance/master require pre- mustannually in engage agricuftural or Courtupheld Act'smunicipal the ment notneed bemet. does to production provision, worthat least finding farmers horticultural that emption . Thefarmer must his conduct operation, for mayconduct certain agricultural activi- 52,500andbe eligible differential or a specific agricultural activity at property pursuant theFarrn municipal regulationsthe to taxation to tiesdespite issue, compliance fte standards in with v. land Assessment of 1964, Act N.J.S.A. contrary.Township Franklin den of contained agricultural in management Hollander,l72 I47 (20021l. N.J. 54:423.L Forfarmssmaller fve han practices havebeenpromulgated ftat production T h ef o l l o w i n g r e s o m ec o m m o n acres, annual a require the questions answers and abouthowthe ment a minimum 550,000 fte is of and continued page62 on
MUNlClpAtlTlES Poge I Jqnuory 60 2006, NEW JERSEY

installation fencing a if accept- the ordinance he candemonstrate postoperations, or by the SADC, withgeneralV "legitimate is lt currently drafting reason" andaquaculture. agriculturally-based practices. edagricultural farm operations, marfor AMPs equine ld. . The operation must be in compli- for notcomplying. at 153. greenhouses agritourism. and kets, stateandfederal Q What are agriculturalmanageancewith relevant seek practices(AMPs)? rient Q Whereshoulda municiPalitY and statutes rules. rEfiefwhen it believesa farmer is in practices are . Theoperation management mustnotposea direct I Agricultural activi- violationof its ordinances? agricultural for standards specific public safety. health and to threat a , promulgated the SADC I W h e na n i n d i v i d u ailn c l u d i n g by lf a farmer meets the eligibilitY ties that are Q by is "aggrieved" a comprocedure. Farrn municipality, the through rulemaking c-riteriaof the Act, do his agriculto m e r c i a lf a r m o p e r a t i o nt,h e A c t withAMPs tural activities automatically pre- ersmustbe in compliance to suchpersons ftle a comof the receve protections the Act. lf an requires empt municipalordinances? priorto plaint theapplicable CADB with by is activity notaddressed a promulgatt N o . A l t h o u g hh e N e w J e r s e Y ed AMP, farmer in court.Municipalities A an mustbe in comPli- filing action the the upheld Act'smunici- ance Court Supreme are their to agriculturalseeking enforce ordinances accepted wrthgenerally provision, cautioned it pal pre-emption to required file a complaint therefore practices. SADC and The management develop-CADBs uponagricultural soil withtheCADB agriculture that the county a thanissue sumrather and rely and mentboards(CADBs) the State exoerts make determination. or The the monsagainst farmer. SADC this to Committee Development Agriculture (SADC), not have"carteblanche" do the upheld Act's Court Supreme TheNewJersey and theirviews, directrightto impose localordtto provision, that finding preemption ed the agencies consider municipal thatmayaffect and nances regulations activities agricultural certain may farmers conduct ld. activity. at 151-152. anagricultural to regulationsthe contrary. municipal despite and that also TheCourt held theSADC of the mustconsider impact the CADBs hearing a would thenhold public and To date, the SADChas adopted CADB health on activity public agricultural "andtemper the whether farmeris m theirdeterminations M P s o r a p i a r i e sP o u l t r y a n u r e to determine f , A safety of to by-prod-entitled theprotections theAct. ld. in food withthesestandards mind." at application, processing the decision, New vegetable InflredenHollander between uct application, commercial thereis a conflict 151.Where that recognized Court Supreme n and activity anordinance,a n d t r e e f r u r t p r o d u c t i o n , a t u r a l Jersey anagricuhural jurishaveprimary and com- the SADC CADBs on-farm with resource conservation, a farmermay not haveto comPly municipalibetween overdisputes diction - meaning that commercialfarms tiesand by be should heard the disputes such pension your Are payroll, & ld. than rather in court. at 151. agencies costs insurance ri$ing? (All decisions theSADC, however, of final to can be appealed the NewJerseY yourwsts! can XTel lower F Suite Division.) 9 E.StowRoad, Appellate Court, Superior NJ Marlton, 08053 Browngrows Farmer For example, difficult on lsitincreasingly tosupply fruits and vegetables a farm in sigHe services County. hasexperienced mandated without Salem Services State Voice Data & from deerthat crop damage nificant Aid?? State sufficient wander ontohisfarmfroman adjacent Long n Local& Distance park.Farmer erectsa Brown county yourcosts! XTel lower can &Centrex e Switched wovenwire fence at a high-tensile & e DigitalTlPRI his of you ofbeing forlate billed height eightfeet around farmto tired Digital Are federalstates every Voice a Integrated & Data his prevent deer fromentering protr the taxes & fees, prohibits Service ordinance erty.A township month? six Internet fencing exceeds feetin height. that e High-Speed Service its to wished enforce lf the townshio yourcosts! lower XTel can it Brown, Farmer against ordinance fence wtth to be would required filea complaint analysis, a Torequestfree a thanissue sum rather CADB the local please or email: call court. in and mons proceedingmunicipal 800-438-9835 to hearing holda public would TheCADB meets Brown Farmer whether determine x Motto 316 x Nims 324Jane Ginny of criteria theAct.TheCADB tlreeligibility gnims@ltel.netimotto@xtel.net would ordinance the consider township's lt for andthe reasons the ordinance.

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By Endorsed The of League NJSfafe Municipalities!

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